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Congress Has Moral Obligation to Recognize Genocide (Rep. Frank Pallone)

by N.J. Dem. Rep. Frank Pallone - 10/10/07 12:09 PM ET

I am extremely pleased that the House Committee on Foreign Affairs is hold a markup Today on H. Res. 106, the Armenian Genocide Resolution.

April 24th, 1915 marked the beginning of the systematic and deliberate campaign of genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire. Over the following eight years, one and a half million Armenians were tortured and murdered, and more than half a million were forced from their homeland into exile.

The Armenian Genocide Resolution calls on the President and the U.S. Government to properly recognize the atrocities that occurred in Armenia beginning in 1915 as genocide. It currently has 226 co-sponsors, more than a majority of the House.

It’s time the U.S. government recognizes these actions as genocide so that we can renew our commitment to prevent such atrocities from occurring again. By properly affirming the Armenian Genocide, we can also help to ensure its legacy and rightfully honor its victims and survivors. Ninety years is too long to wait for justice to be served and proper recognition to be made.

As members of Congress we have a moral obligation to record injustice. I am confident that the House Committee on Foreign Affairs will pass this long-overdue legislation on Wednesday. I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure that when the Resolution comes to the House floor for a vote, it will receive the overwhelming support it deserves.